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Marching band and Color Guard compete at Newport Harbor High School

Blue Thunder Marching Band and Color Guard competed at their first field tournament of the year on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Newport Harbor High School.

Marching band won fifth place in its division, and Color Guard placed fourth after competing against five other high schools in California.

“Hopefully next competition, our score will go up. [The competition] definitely gave us a good understanding of where we are among the other guards, and it will act as motivation for us to work harder to improve our show,” Color Guard captain junior Scarlett Chen said. “It also gives coaches an insight as to which parts need to be changed.”

To prepare for this event, both marching band and Color Guard have been rehearsing since band camp in the summer. Members practice their routine every Tuesday to perfect choreography, marching, timing and music.

“The preparation [for competitions] is definitely needed,” clarinetist freshman Justin Lau said. “If not for practice, we wouldn’t be doing as well as we are now. Practice makes perfect, but of course, our show wasn’t perfect. What matters is the performance, not winning.”

Marching band and Color Guard performed their field show “Shadows and Light,” which consisted of pieces such as “Illumination,” “Eclipse” and “Darkness” by Steve Martin, Aaron Hines and Jon Brill.

“Before performing, it’s frustrating because we spend so much time practicing and getting ready. Whenever things don’t go as expected, it’s a bit disheartening, at least as a leader,” pit percussion leader senior Chris Ramirez said. “But it all washes away during the performance when things go right—seeing such a big crowd cheering you on—it feels really good knowing that the hard work we do pays off.”